Texas’ new school choice program saw a flood of interest Monday as more than 20,000 students applied for Education Freedom Accounts on the first day applications opened, with nearly 8,000 submissions rushing in during just the first hour.
The Texas Education Freedom Accounts (TEFA) program, which will provide families with up to $10,474 per student for private school tuition and other educational expenses, opened its application portal at 9 a.m. on February 4, marking what officials call a historic moment in the state’s approach to education funding.
High Demand Signals Strong Interest
“Today marks an exciting new chapter for Texas families,” said Acting Texas Comptroller Kelly Hancock in a statement. “The Texas Education Freedom Accounts program is about one simple idea: Every child deserves an education that fits their unique needs. By opening the application process, we’re putting parents in the driver’s seat and giving them more flexibility to choose the learning environment where their child can thrive.”
Created by Senate Bill 2 in 2025, the program has allocated $1 billion for the 2026-27 school year, making it the largest day-one state-based school choice program in the country, according to the American Federation for Children, which celebrated the launch.
Parents seeking to participate have until March 17 to apply, and officials stress that applications aren’t processed on a first-come-first-served basis. Instead, the program will prioritize low-income students with disabilities if applications exceed available funding.
What Families Stand to Receive
The TEFA program offers varying levels of support based on student needs. Most families will receive about $10,474 per student — approximately 85% of the average state and local per-student funding — while students with disabilities could qualify for up to $30,000 through an Individualized Education Program (IEP). Homeschooling families aren’t left out either; they can receive up to $2,000 per student, as detailed by education policy analysts.
Families can use these funds for a range of educational expenses beyond just private school tuition. What exactly can the money cover? Everything from therapy services and educational materials to tutoring and technology, though technology purchases are capped at 10% of the total account value, according to program guidelines.
“Families will get up to about 25 percent of their total funding on July 1 so that they can get ready for the school year, pay their initial costs, acquire curriculum, pay their tuition and fees at their school,” explained Travis Pillow, a program administrator.
Application Process and Timeline
The Winston School, one of many private institutions participating in the program, has already begun informing families about the application process, which runs from February 4 to March 17, 2026, with funds becoming available for the 2026-27 school year, as outlined on their admissions page.
Texas officials have created a streamlined application process, requiring just one application per household for all eligible children, according to the TEFA Parent Application Guide. The funds will be distributed in installments starting July 1, a measure designed to prevent fraud while giving families time to prepare for the upcoming school year.
The program’s design reflects a significant shift in how Texas approaches education funding. Rather than allocating all resources directly to public schools, the state is now giving parents more control over how and where their children are educated, a move Governor Abbott has championed as expanding educational freedom.
Will this new approach live up to its promise of better serving Texas students? That remains to be seen as the program rolls out this summer, but the overwhelming initial response suggests many Texas families are eager to explore alternatives to traditional public education.
For those interested in applying, the Texas Comptroller’s office directs families to the official website, where detailed information about eligibility requirements and covered expenses can be found alongside the application portal.
Private schools across the state are also preparing for potential enrollment increases, with many already updating their admissions processes to accommodate TEFA recipients for the coming school year.
“We are excited for parents to be a part of history,” said the American Federation for Children in their statement on the program launch, reflecting the sentiment of school choice advocates who have worked for years to bring this program to Texas families.
